Use of Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Roadside Condition Surveys

Micro unmanned aerial vehicles (MUAVs) that are equipped with digital imaging systems and Global Positioning System (GPS) provide a potential opportunity for improving the effectiveness and safety of roadside condition and inventory surveys. This paper provides an assessment of the effectiveness of MUAVs as a tool for collecting condition and inventory data for roadside infrastructure assets using a field experiment. The field experiment entails performing a level of service (LOS) condition assessment on 10 roadway sample units on IH-20 in Tyler, Texas. The condition of these sample units was assessed twice: onsite (i.e., ground truth) and by observing digital images (still and video) collected via a MUAV. The results of these surveys are analyzed to determine if there are statistically significant differences in the standard deviation and mean values of the condition ratings. Additionally, the operational performance of the MUAV was observed in various weather and field conditions. The results of this study will help transportation agencies to decide if MUAV technology can be adopted for inventory and condition surveys of roadside assets and maintenance activities. 2011 ASCE.

Use of Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Roadside Condition Surveys Conference Paper